As games have increased in sophistication, they have become a stage for ever higher displays of human skill and brilliance. The result is a tier of the gaming world filled with startling disciplined, talented, and highly competitive players. Born out of arcade tournaments and LAN parties, the world of competitive gaming is now entering a mature phase, featuring major global events attended by thousands and watched by millions online. With valuable sponsorship and prize money of increasing value, competitive gaming is claiming a space similar to that of traditional sports. This new industry is still in its early stages, developing broadcasting models and negotiating the culture of its widening audience. But whether it's fighting games or MOBAs, the players and spectators are passionate, and individuals and leagues are working hard to elevate e-sports into the highest echelons of human achievement. Featuring: TL Taylor, MIT www.amazon.com/Raising-Stakes-Sports-Professionalization-Computer/dp/0262017377 AJ Mazur, IGN Damien "Damdai" Dailidenas, winner of the 25th Anniversary Street Fighter II Tournament Music: Kats: soundcloud.com/kats/kats1989 MMIKE: www.jamendo.com/en/track/849091/mmike-8-bit-enough-to-happiness TheDarthMoogle: soundcloud.com/thedarthmoogle RWY: soundcloud.com/rwyproductions Floating Isle: www.jamendo.com/en/list/a98339/8bit-traveller Binarpilot: www.jamendo.com/en/artist/1125/binaerpilot Possimiste: soundcloud.com/possimiste Tournament Footage: Local Strike Games - www.youtube.com/watch?v=D765cXnlZM4 MajorLeagueGaming - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn8bTplb-RI Full Sail University - www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjPZ5qTZ7mw Special Thanks: Red Bull Game Zone Online - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UdKSyNAgx0 World Cyber Games - www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQVJZyOV9Is Suddoth Media Hd - www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5iRB34BNpw Special thanks to: Pro Halo 4 players Suddoth 1, and Suddoth 2 from team: Reality Check. www.twitter.com/suddoth1 and www.twitter.com/suddoth2. Check out consolegamingleague.com for upcoming tournaments for Call of Duty, Gears of War and Halo 4 fnatic TV - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GIC_CLqG68 Subscribe to their channel here: www.youtube.com/user/fnaticTV?feature=watch GAMEeNigma - www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gkiFRACsz8 WggTvNetwork - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IWiWXyZrbU Mad Catz - www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGpsO1i2LbE NamcoBandaiGames - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLeuNkROS3U xMrsViolencex - www.youtube.com/user/xMrsViolencex More Off Book: We took a look at What's The Deal With Internet Comedy? youtu.be/LhmhbjuL2HQ We Celebrated The Art of Creative Coding youtu.be/eBV14-3LT-g Our video on Bad Behavior Online: youtu.be/RVSAFhTjAdc Our short documentary on The Universal Arts of Graphic Design: youtu.be/sTi5SNgxE3U Follow Off Book: Twitter: @pbsoffbook Tumblr: pbsarts.tumblr.com/ Produced by Kornhaber Brown: www.kornhaberbrown.com

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